IU 

115 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


47TH  CONGRESS,  )  SENATE.  t  Ex.  Doc. 

1st  Session.       )  \    No.  23. 

TO 


LETTER 


THE   SECRETARY    OF    WAR, 


TRANSMITTING 


A  communication  from  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  dated  the  l±th  instant,  cot- 
ering  copy  of  report  from  Maj.  J.  A.  Smith,  Corps  of  Engineer r.v,  upon  a 
survey  for  a  harbor  of  refuge  at  New  Buffalo,  Mich. 


DECEMBKU  19,  1881. — Referred  to  the  Committee  on   Commerce  and  ordered  to  be 

printed. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington  City,  December  16,  1881. 

The  Secretary  of  War  has  the  honor  to  transmit  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  for  the  information  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce,  a  communi- 
cation from  the  Chief  of  Engineers  dated  the  14th  instant,  covering  copy 
of  report  from  Maj.  J.  A.  Smith,  Corps  of  Engineers,  upon  a  survey  for 
a  harbor  of  refuge  at  New  Buffalo,  Mich.,  made  in  compliance  with  the 
requirements  of  the  river  and  harbor  act  of  March  3,  1881. 

ROBERT  T.  LINCOLN, 

Secretary  of  War. 
The  PRESIDENT  pro  tempore 

of  the  United  States  Senate. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS, 

UNITED  STATES  ARMY, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  December  14,  1881. 

SIR:  To  comply  with  requirements  of  the  river  and  harbor  act  of 
March  3,  1881,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  copy  of  a  report 
to  this  office  from  Maj.  J.  A.  Smith,  Corps  of  Engineers,  of  results  of  a 
survey,  made  under  liis  direction,  for  a  harbor  of  refuge  at  New  Buffalo, 
Mich. 

Verv  respectfully,  yonr  obedient  servant, 

H.  G.  WRIGHT, 
Chief  of  Engineers,  Brig,  and  Bvt.  Maj.  Gen. 

Hon.  ROBERT  T.  LINCOLN, 

Secretary  of  War. 


2      HARBOR  OF  REFUGE  AT  NEW  BUFFALO,  MICH. 

SURVEY  FOR  HARBOR  OF  REFUGE  AT  NEW  BUFFALO,  MICH. 

UNITED  STATES  ENGINEER  OFFICE, 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  October  10,  1881. 

GENERAL:  I  have  to  submit  the  following  report  of  a  survey  for  a 
harbor  of  refuge  at  New  Buffalo,  Mich.,  and  an  estimate  of  the  cost,  as 
required  by  section  3  of  the  river  and  harbor  act,  approved  March  3, 

1881. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Ou  the  3d  of  June,  I  instructed  Assistant  Engineer  O.  L.  IMitdidier 
to  proceed  to  New  Buffalo,  and  make  a  careful  survey  of  a  portion  of  the 
lake  adjacent  to  the  town,  and  also  of  a  part  of  the  interior  swamp  and 
creek  known  as  Lake  Pottawatomie.  *  *  *  The  field  Avork  has  been 
carefully  reduced,  *  *  *  and  the  map  is  forwarded  in  a  separate 
package  to  accompany  this  report. 

New  Buffalo  is  situated  near  the  south  end  of  Lake  Michigan,  and 
about  10  miles  east  of  Michigan  City,  liid. 

In  1867  the  sum  of  $60,000  was  appropriated  for  the  improvement  of 
the  harbor.  The  following  appropriations  were  subsequently  made  for 
the  same  purpose;  in  1870,  $5,000,  and  in  1871,  $500. 

The  subject  of  the  improvement  of  this  harbor  was  referred  to  a  Board 
of  Engineers  in  1868,  whose  report  was  adverse  thereto;  but  the  appro- 
priation act  having  directed  the  execution  of  the  work,  there  was  no 
other  course  to  pursue  than  to  commence  the  project  with  the  means 
appropriated,  and  submit  the  result  of  the  experiment,  in  order  that 
Congress  might  determine  whether  the  improvement  should  be  continued. 

The  Board  of  Engineers  estimated  the  cost  of  improvement  at  $500,000. 

Of  the  amounts  appropriated,  $65,000  were  expended  in  constructing 
piers  and  dredging  a  channel.  The  improvements  made  were  never 
sufficient  to  attract  or  accommodate  any  commerce,  and  at  present  there 
are  no  commercial  statistics  to  report. 

The  place  is  in  the  collection  district  of  Chicago,  ami  the  nearest  light-house  is 
at  Michigan  City,  Ind. 

During  the  few  years  in  which  I  have  been  charged  with  these  works 
several  vessels  have  been  wrecked  at  and  near  Michigan  City,  princi- 
pally because  the  incomplete  condition  of  the  outer  harbor  there  made 
the  entrance  difficult;  but  I  have  not  known,  and  cannot  learn  of  any 
vessels  having  been  driven  ashore  at  any  point  nearer  New  Buffalo  than 
the  one  named. 

Undoubtedly  a  good  harbor  of  refuge  would  attract  a  considerable  com- 
merce, and  in  addition  would  build  up  many  local  interests,  but  to  what 
extent  is  a  matter  for  conjecture  only. 

There  are  no  engineering  difficulties  in  the  way  of  building  a  harbor 
suitable  for  a  refuge,  but  it  will  involve  considerable  expense. 

A  harbor  of  refuge,  to  fulfill  its  object,  must  cover  a  sufficient  area  and 
depth  to  enable  vessels  to  enter,  "round  to"  or  "wear"  into  the  wind, 
and  ride  safely  at  anchor. 

In  addition  to  this,  it  is  very  desirable  that  the  protection  be  so  ar- 
ranged that  vessels  may  safely  enter  and  leave  the  harbor  without  in- 
curring the  expense  of  towing. 

The  direction  of  the  shore  line  at  New  Buffalo  is  approximately  north- 
east and  southwest,  while  the  winds  which  would  make  a  shelter  neces- 
sary are  from  northerly  directions.  The  drift  caused  by  these  winds  is 
not  large,  though  the bottom  is  composed  of  a  sand  which  is  easily  moved. 
ISo  observations  have  been  made  as  to  the  direction  of  the  drift,  but  a 
study  of  the  map  indicates  that  it  is  from  northeast  to  southwest. 

The  sand  is  in  places  very  coarse,  like  gravel,  and  overlies  a  stratum 


HARBOR  OF  REFUGE  AT  NEW  BUFFALO,  MICH.        3 

of  very  hard  clay ;  this  clay  is  found  at  a  depth  of  24  feet  near  the  shore, 
and  32  to  37  feet  at  a  distance  of  nearly  one-half  a  mile  into  the  lake. 
The  stratum  of  sand  becomes  less  in  thickness  as  it  extends  into  the 
lake,  and  at  a  distance  of  one-half  a  mile  it  varies  from  3  to  11  feet  in 
depth,  so  far  as  ascertained  from  the  soundings  taken. 

This  affords  a  good  support  for  a  breakwater  and  piers  upon  foun- 
dations of  piles  driven  through  the  sand  into  the  clay.  The  superstruc- 
ture of  such  works  cannot  be  made  permanent  if  .constructed  after  the 
method  heretofore  employed  in  our  harbor  improvements,  because  the 
best  of  timber  will  decay  sooner  or  later,  and  unless  carefully  watched 
.and  repaired  will  not  only  be  itself  a  loss,  but,  by  uncovering  the  por- 
tions below,  will  permit  them  to  be  emptied  of  stone,  and  destroyed. 

The  method  I  am  now  employing  at  Michigan  City  not  only  prevents 
any  settling  of  the  cribs  but  holds  them  so  firmly  in"  position  that  they 
are  not  moved  in  heavy  gales  occurring  before  the  superstructure  is 
added.  This  permits  the  engineer  to  build  the  superstructure  at  once, 
thus  saving  the  expense  of  the  temporary  wooden  work  with  other 
numerous  and  expensive  contingencies. 

My  estimate  for  a  breakwater  is  therefore  made  for  the  first  cost  of  a 
work  with  the  usual  superstructure  of  timber  and  loose  stone,  with  a 
second  estimate  for  the  same  if  built  with  a  superstructure  or  parapet 
of  concrete  masonry  faced  with  stone.  This  method,  though  more  ex- 
pensive at  first,  will  be  a  great  ultimate  economy. 

Upon  the  map  I  have  indicated  in  broken  lines,  the  positions  and 
lengths  of  a  breakwater  and  piers  to  enclose  a  harbor  for  refuge  entirely 
outside  the  line  of  the  shore. 

At  a  point  about  2,400  feet  from  the  shore  and  in  the  prolongation  of 
the  present  east  pier  in  water  30  feet  deep,  a  line  of  breakwater  is  com- 
menced and  extended  directly  eastward  a  distance  of  1,500  feet. 

It  is  proposed  to  extend  a  second  breakwater  1,500  feet  in  a  south- 
westerly direction,  making  an  angle  of  120°  with  the  first,  and  leaving 
mi  opening  of  400  feet  at  the  angle. 

As  heavy  winds  will  cause  seas  and  currents  to  pass  along  the  faces 
of  the  breakwater,  two  entrance  piers  are  planned,  one  of  300  feet,  the 
other  of  200  feet  in  length ;  the  longer  pier  on  the  northeast  side. 

As  a  further  protection  to  the  harbor,  and  to  prevent  its  becoming 
filled  with  drift,  piers  are  planned  extending  from  the  shore  to  points 
200  feet  inside  the  extremities  of  the  two  wings  of  the  breakwater. 

The  plan  above  proposed  will  fulfill  all  the  requirements  of  a  harbor  of 
refuge  of  as  small  dimensions  as  I  consider  prudent  for  any  practical  use. 
Were  there  at  present  any  commerce  to  accommodate,  it  should  be  made 
larger  rather  than  smaller. 

I  estimate  the  expense  of  this  work  as  follows : 

1st.  If  built  with  superstructure  of  crib- work — 
3,500  linear  feet  of  breakwater  aud  entrance  piers,  35  feet  wide,  at  $175  per  foot.  $612, 500 

Piers  from  shore,  12  to  20  feet  wide,  3,000  linear  feet,  at  $50 1 50,  000 

Contingencies,  nearly  5  per  cent 37, 500 

Total •  -800,000 

2d.  If  covered  with  superstructure  and  parapet  of  masonry,  the  main 
body  of  work  below  water  being  as  before — 

3,500  feet:,  foundations  and  crib-work,  at  $125 - $437, 500 

.Superstructure  and  parapet  for  same,  at  $75  per  linear  foot 262, 500 

Foundation  and  crib-work  for  3,000  linear  feet  of  shore-piers,  at  $40  per  linear 

foot ! 120,000 

Superstructure  and  parapet  for  same,  at  $35  per  linear  foot 105, 000 

rlvSpercent 45,000 


4        HARBOR  OF  REFUGE  AT  NEW  BUFFALO,  MICH. 

Although  I  consider  the  foregoing1  plan  decidedly  the  better  one  for 
a  harbor  of  refuge,  I  submit  a  second,  which  consists  of  deepening  a  por- 
tion of  the  swamp  and  creek,  and  connecting  the  harbor  thus  made  with 
the  lake  by  a  channel  300  feet  wide,  protected  by  piers. 

The  plan  here  indicated  is  as  follows : 

Two  parallel  entrance  piers,  300  feet  apart,  to  extend  into  water  24 
feet  deep;  the  northeast  pier  to  be  in  the  prolongation  of  the  old  pier. 

The  inner  basin  to  be  made  with  a  wharf  front  parallel  to  and  600  feet 
from  the  outer  line  of  Mechanic  street.  The  eastern  part  of  the  basin 
to  be  800  feet  wide,  and  its  extent  to  be  determined  by  the  railroad 
which  now  crosses  the  swamp ;  the  western  portion  to  be  about  equal  in 
area,  the  outer  line  being  parallel  to  the  adjacent  shore  of  the  lake.  The 
positions  of  the  piers  and  outlines  of  the  inner  basin  are  indicated  on  the 
map  in  broken  lines.  The  outer  and  inner  lines  of  the  basin  are  pro- 
longed to  indicate  that  the  size  of  the  basin  may  be  almost  indefinitely 
extended  beyond  what  is  called  for  in  this  project,  should  the  demands 
of  commerce  at  any  future  time  make  it  desirable. 

As  a  commercial  venture  the  basin  thus  outlined  would  be  superior, 
and  would  cost  less  for  maintenance  than  the  outer  harbor;  but  as  a 
refuge  simply,  it  cannot  be  urgently  recommended. 

I  estimate  the  cost  of  this  work  ;is  follows: 

4,400  linear  feet  of  piers,  composed  of  pile  foundations  supporting  crib-work 
filled  with  stone,  at  $75 $330,  000 

Dredging  channel  300  feet  wide,  to  a  depth  of  16  feet,  155,000  cubic  yards 
of  material,  at  25  cents ". 38,750 

For  construction  of  basin  2,500  feet  long,  600  to  800  feet  wide,  and  16  feet 
deep,  as  outlined  on  map,  dredging  and  removing  900,000  cubic  yards  of 
material,  at  25  cents 225,000 

Contingencies  of  price,  &c 56, 250 

Total 650,000 

Yery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

JARED  A.  SMITH, 

Major  of  Engineers. 
Brig.  Gen.  H.  G-.  WRIGHT, 

Chief  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A. 


REPORT   OF   MR.    O.    L.    PETITDIDIER,  ASSISTANT  ENGINEER. 

INDIANAPOLIS,  July  21,  1881. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  accordance  with  your  instructions    *     * 
I  reached  New  Buffalo  on  June  6. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  unimportant  details  which  were  taken  from  a  former 
map  in  the  office,  the  data  given  are  entirely  from  my  note  books. 

The  height  of  water  surface  at  time  of  sounding  was  referred  to  a  bench-mark 
(shown  on  the  map  at  south  end  of  east  pier),  the  bench-mark  being  6.72  feet  above 
water  surface. 

The  only  change  noticeable  since  the  latest  map  was  made  was  that  the  Chicago 
and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad  have  made  an  embankment  of  sand  over  their 
bridging,  or  rather  trestling,  across  Pottawatomie  Lake;  they  have  of  course  left  an 
opening  for  Galieu  River;  the  other  changes  border  more  on  a  general  state  of  dilapi- 
dation, owing  to  a  want  of  attention  to  repairs  which  have  been  necessary  from  time 
to  time,  but  have  never  been  made. 

The  inner  piers,  being  washed  by  the  water  of  the  creek,  have  decayed  much  more 
rapidly  than  the  east  pier  outside  the  harbor. 

The  west  pier  and  the  smaller  east  pier  inside  are  now  beyond  repairs." 

The  outside  enst  pier  is,  in  some  of  its  parts,  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation,  while 
others  will  rapidly  go  to  ruin  unless  soon  restored. 

The  borings  were  made  with  a  water-jet  from  a  force-pump  having  a  rubber  hose 


HARBOR  OF  REFUGE  AT  NEW  BUFFALO,  MICH.        5 

attached  with  different  lengths  of  1^-iuch  gas-pipe,  which  were  connected  as  the  pipe 
descended. 

In  ordinary  sand  the  pipe  sank  very  rapidly.  I  can  give  no  exact  figures,  but  it 
was  as  fast  as  a  man  could  conveniently  lower  it. 

To  ascertain  the  nature  of  the.  bottom  an  auger  mounted  on  a  f-inch  gas-pipe  was 
used,  and  the  finding  and  bringing  up  samples  of  the  material  was  along  and  on  the 
outside  of  the  pipe,  it  being  found  that  the  sand  washed  out  from  the  bottom  left  a 
large  conical  hole  through  which  the  bottom  was  easily  reached.  The  whole  appa- 
ratus was  on  a  raft  put  together  in  one  hour. 

I  contented  myself  with  going  to  the  clay,  whenever  possible,  so  that  I  do  not  know 
its  thickness. 

In  the  inner  harbor  clay  was  struck  but  once.  All  the  rest  of  the  borings  passed 
through  a  stratum  locally  called  "muck,"  which  is  very  viscous  in  its  nature  without 
being  as  cohesive  as  the  clay. 

A  depth  of  28  feet  was  bored  through  the  muck,  but  it  was  very  difficult  to  with- 
draw the  pipes,  as  the  holes  washed  out  by  the  jet  of  water  were  only  large  enough 
for  the  pipes  to  pass  through.  I  therefore  desisted  trying  to  reach  the  clay. 

I  have  been  informed  that  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company,  in  driving  pil- 
ing to  carry  their  track  to  the  lake,  when  near  the  boring  marked  No.  3  on  the  map, 
drove  three  piles,  end  to  end,  until  a  depth  of  90  feet  was  reached,  without  any  solid 
bottom. 

The  citizens  have  appointed  a  committee  on  harbor  improvement,  and  raised  about 
$7,000  to  continue  to  construct  an  outside  west  pier;  they  have  appointed  an  engineer, 
and  seem  to  be  pushing  matters  vigorously. 

When  I  left  New  Buffalo,  at  the  close  of  the  survey,  they  had  already  on  the  ground 
some  200  piles  35  feet  long,  and  were  waiting  before  commencing  work  for  advice  as 
to  the  best  method  of  construction. 

The  survey  was  completed  June  25.  *  *  *  The  elevation  of  numerous  points  above 
the  water  has  been  determined,  and  is  indicated  on  the  map,  preceded  by  the  sign  ( — ). 

Number  of  soundings  taken  and  located  is  1,667. 

Number  of  borings,  18. 

Boring  Xo.  1.— Water,  7  feet;  muck,  5  feet;  depth  to  clay,  12  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  2. — Water,  8.5  feet ;  gravel,  1.5  feet ;  through  muck,  13  feet;  total  depth, 
•without  reaching  clay,  23  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  3.— Water,  8  feet ;  muck,  8  feet ;  total  depth  reached,  16  feet ;  no  hard 
bottom  reached. 

Boring  Xo.  4.— Water,  8  feet;  muck,  9  feet;  no  hard  bottom  at  17  feet. 

Boring  No.  5.— Water,  10  feet;  muck,  10  feet ;  no  hard  bottom  at  20  feet. 

Boring  No.  6. — Water,  5  feet ;  sand  and  gravel,  7  feet ;  muck,  4  feet ;  no  hard  bottom 
at  16  feet. 

Boring  No.  7.— Water,  8  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  16  feet;  no  muck;  clay  was  struck 
at  24  feet. 

Boring  No.  8. — Water,  18  feet ;  sand  and  gravel,  5.5  feet ;  clay  was  struck  at  23.5  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  9.— Water,  18.5  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  6  feet;  clay  at  24.5  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  10. — WTater,  25  feet ;  sand  aud  gravel,  3  feet  to  hard  pan ;  could  not  pene- 
trate through  it. 

Boring  Xo.  11.— Water,  25  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  6.5  feet;  struck  clay  at  31.5  feet. 

Boring  No.  12. — Water,  26  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  11  feet;  struck  clay  at  37 feet. 

Boring  Xo.  13.— Water,  17  feet:  sand  and  gravel,  13  feet;  hard  pan,  1.5  feet;  clay 
reached  at  31  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  14.— Water,  19  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  3  feet;  hard  pan,  1  foot;  clay 
struck  at  23  feet. 

Boring  No.  15.— Water,  8  feet ;  sand  and  gravel,  13  feet ;  a  dark  muck  clay,  quite 
hard,  was  found  at  21  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  16. — Water,  2.5  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  7.5  feet;  struck  muck  at  10  feet, 
and  could  not  penetrate  any  farther. 

Boring  No.  17.— Water,  6  feet;  sand  and  gravel,  5.5  feet;  conglomerate  and  hard 
gravel,  1  foot ;  sand  and  gravel,  11  feet,  to  some  hard  bottom  which  could  not  be  pene- 
trated; total  depth  reached,  17.5  feet. 

Boring  Xo.  18.— Water,  4  feet ;  sand,  6  feet ;  muck,  21  feet ;  no  hard  bottom  at  27  feet. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  vour  most  obedient  servant, 

O.  L.    PETITDIDIER, 

Assistant  Engineer. 
Maj.  JARED  A.  SMITH, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A. 

S.  Ex.  23 2 


S020. 


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